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Labor and Employment Law

From the executive suite to the factory floor, businesses are only as good as their people. It’s a simple formula — but one that has become increasingly complicated by a diverse, highly mobile workforce and a complex web of federal, state and local regulations. The labor and employment attorneys at Evans & Dixon help employers at every step of the employer-employee relationship and, when disputes arise, provide effective representation in employment-related disputes.

We advise small businesses, large corporations, and public and private organizations across the Midwest and in many industries, including construction, healthcare, retail, transportation, and professional and other services. We deliver cost-effective, proven solutions that help clients achieve their business objectives while minimizing potential risks. Our lawyers counsel clients in three key areas:

Employment Counseling and Dispute Prevention

We help clients gain a full understanding of relevant labor and employment laws so that they can move beyond risk management and toward becoming an employer of choice. We work with clients to draft policies, procedures and performance standards, prepare employee handbooks and offer letters, negotiate effective employment contracts and agreements, and implement industry best practices in the following:

  • Professional development and training for supervisors on legal trends and compliance
  • Classification of employees and independent contractors, and other wage-and-hour compliance
  • Workplace safety programs
  • Affirmative action compliance, including diversity best practices, plan design and Office of Federal Contract Compliance reviews
  • Leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, and workers’ compensation return-to-work issues
  • Drug testing policies and disciplinary actions
  • Performance improvement plans and employee evaluations
  • Non-competition agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and agreements by which employees assign intellectual property rights

Organized Labor

While fewer employees are members of labor unions, organized labor remains a force to be reckoned with for many employers. We advise and represent clients on a broad range of traditional labor issues, including the following:

  • Collective bargaining agreements
  • Union avoidance strategies and union organizing campaigns
  • Grievances and arbitrations
  • Strikes, picketing, lockouts, and other economic tactics related to labor disputes
  • Labor issues that accompany mergers and acquisitions, mass layoffs, plant shutdowns, and business relocations

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

No employer, no matter how proactive, is completely protected from potential disputes with individual employees, unions, or federal, state and local regulatory and law enforcement agencies. Our labor and employment litigators provide comprehensive counsel in the following, among other areas:

  • Discrimination
  • Assault, battery and other criminal actions in the workplace
  • Sexual harassment,
  • Wage and hour law violations, including Department of Labor investigations of minimum wage, overtime and child labor law issues
  • OSHA workplace safety investigations
  • Breaches of contract, non-disclosure or non-competition agreements
  • Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) breaches of fiduciary duty
  • Wrongful discharge, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress
  • Tortious interference with business relations
  • Whistle blowing and retaliatory discharge.
  • National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proceedings regarding representation elections, decertification elections and unfair labor practices
  • State unemployment compensation benefits claims 

Attorney Contact: Gerry Richardson | 314-552-4053 | grichardson@evans-dixon.com 

Our Services

Through a broad range of legal disciplines, Evans & Dixon’s highly skilled attorneys leverage their experience and expertise in the following practice areas to meet client objectives:

Insurance Defense

Our civil litigation team offers excellent case management experience, superior advocacy skills and deep knowledge of emerging legal and regulatory changes that can affect the outcome of a dispute.

Business Litigation

When it comes to business litigation, the name speaks for itself: commercial and legal issues are two sides of the same coin.

Collections

Achieving the maximum returns on outstanding debts while minimizing potential risks requires persuasive skill, tenacity and a clear understanding of debt-related regulatory requirements.

Workers' Compensation Defense

At Evans & Dixon, we made our name on the strength of our workers’ compensation and employer liability practice.

Real Estate

Our real estate industry team helps clients stay ahead of emerging legal issues and remain fully competitive in this dynamic sector of the regional and national economy.

Estate Planning

Writing a will is just a small part in establishing a well-crafted estate plan and the attorneys of Evans & Dixon are here to guide you in all legal aspects.

Securities & M+A

The Business Law team is skilled to assess your business needs in commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, business formations, and corporate governance.

Cyber Security

According to the 2017 Verizon Data Breach Incident Report, 25% of the time security incidents involve internal attackers (e.g. employees or contractors) and 75% involve outside attackers.

Labor & Employment Law

From the executive suite to the factory floor, businesses are only as good as their people. It’s a simple formula — but one that has become increasingly complicated by a diverse, highly mobile workforce and a complex web of federal, state and local regulations.

Healthcare

The U.S. healthcare industry is in the midst of a rapid, major transition from fee-for-service models to a performance- and value-based payment system.

Intellectual Property

In today’s economy, every business owns creative assets that, at minimum, require protection and, at best, can be exploited to realize their full market value.

Insurance Subrogation

The Evans & Dixon Insurance Subrogation group's extensive experience in trials, mediation and arbitration has resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of insurance companies.

Industries

  • Real Estate
  • Construction
  • Insurance
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing
  • Transportation

Real Estate

Evans & Dixon’s real estate industry team helps publicly held and privately owned real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms stay ahead of emerging legal issues and remain fully competitive in this dynamic sector of the regional and national economy.

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Construction

Successful economies — and businesses — don’t just grow: they arebuilt. Our attorneys help construction industry clients build successful businesses at every step, from negotiating contracts and agreements, to identifying and developing new sources of financing, to helping resolve disputes and negotiate solutions to conflicts that may arise out of such complex projects..

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Insurance

Every business faces risk. But when riskisyour business, you need legal advisors with the experience, focus and legal acumen to help you balance day-to-day operational concerns, strategic initiatives and compliance with complex regulatory requirements.

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Healthcare

The U.S. healthcare industry is in the midst of a rapid, major transition from fee-for-service models to a performance- and value-based payment system. Regulatory compliance, financial performance, patient data privacy… the list of issues and concerns can appear endless and ever-changing.

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Manufacturing

Manufacturing remains a primary driver of the national economy. This is perhaps more true in the Midwest than any other area of the country. At Evans & Dixon, the attorneys in our manufacturing team have the in-depth technical knowledge and firsthand experience necessary to provide effective, targeted legal guidance to members of this important industry.

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Transportation

Manufacturing remains a primary driver of the national economy. This is perhaps more true in the Midwest than any other area of the country. At Evans & Dixon, the attorneys in our manufacturing team have the in-depth technical knowledge and firsthand experience necessary to provide effective, targeted legal guidance to members of this important industry.

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